Media Client Partner in London

At WHSmith our people are at the heart of everything we do. They are the ones that go the extra mile for our customers, the ones that enable our growth.

What you’ll be doing:

• Manage the retail media for either the food or non-food category by working closely with our internal buying teams and our brand partners.
• Work closely with suppliers to understand their campaign objectives and work with the team to develop campaigns that meet these.
• Meet your sales, income and asset utilisation targets to achieve the overall commercial objectives.
• Ensure you are filling our media assets as well as achieving the best yield.
• Develop your category strategy and execute it by working alongside the Media Client Partnerships Manager and the wider buying team.
• Constantly think of new ideas, both campaigns and new media assets to further drive our retail media portfolio.
• Develop relationships beyond shopper marketing teams with brands to access incremental budgets including attending brand days and showcasing our retail media portfolio.
• Fully understand our joint business plans with suppliers and play your part in negotiating the retail media spend within it as well as generating incremental media spend.
• Ensure all our retail media campaigns are loaded correctly into the appropriate systems both from a contract point of view and to ensure our operations team can execute the plans in store.
• Be the go to contact for our brand partners for anything that influences our retail media plans.
• Opportunity to manage the Media Sales Exec and support their personal development through coaching and knowledge sharing.
• Play a part in creating a collaborative culture across the team where everyone feels valued and heard.

What we are looking for:

• Previous experience in managing either retail media sales or product buying.
• Previous experience within a retailer preferred.
• Experience in activating, pitching and negotiating with brands.
• Excellent organisation and planning skills.
• Excellent level of commercial acumen.
• A strong communicator with an ability to influence all levels of the business.
• A self-starter with the initiative to drive improvement and change without prompt.
• A team player who can self-manage but is willing and able to support colleagues and share best practice.
• Proven experience in prioritisation and managing ambiguity.
• Proven experience in using Excel and PowerPoint.

How we reward our teams:

• Hybrid Working Model from home and in the office.
• 4pm Friday Finish.
• Flexible Working.
• 25 Days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday.
• Family Friendly Leave.
• Company Pension scheme.
• Sharesave Scheme.
• Annual Bonus based on company and personal performance.
• Competitive Salary and Car Allowance.
• Private Medical.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Staff Discount Card for railway stores (subject to policy).

About us:

Celebrating over 230 years, we’re proud to have grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries around the world, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. As a diverse group of over 5,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.

Our business operates from two key locations. Our UK Travel and International office is based in a vibrant area of London, close to Aldgate and Liverpool Street Station, while the other is located at Swindon's International Business Park, just off the M4 with excellent transport links and over 100 on-site parking spaces.

Across both locations, we're an ambitious team that thrives on pace, collaboration, and innovation. We foster an entrepreneurial culture where people are encouraged to take initiative, embrace new challenges, and help shape the future of our business. At WHSmith we’re all about creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone can be themselves and do their best. No matter your background, age, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, race or ethnicity, marital status, religion, sex, sexual orientation or anything else that makes you, you—you’re welcome here.

We’re also open to flexible working where possible, so if that’s something you need, let’s chat. And if you need any adjustments during the selection process, just let our Talent Acquisition team know—we’re happy to help!